No One Can Predict When The End Of The World Will Be

The Bible clearly states that no one will know when the end will be. But every year or so someone predicts when the end will happen. They come up with evidence to claim their date is right. It might be something Nostradamus predicted or the lining up of the planets or whatever. The Mayan Indians used a date at the end of 2012 and many predicted it would be the date, but it never happened.

I would believe all of these when they are suppose to happen, but the Bible clearly says that no man will know. It does however say that we should watch for the signs of its coming. Matthew 24:36 says "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Jesus was speaking to his apostles because they asked what the sign of his second coming and the end of the world would be.

Christians are instructed to watch for changes that will predict the time is near.

After the apostles asked about it, Jesus told them these things.

1. First he said that many would come in his name saying they are the Christ and will deceive many. Matthew 24:5

This may be referring to both Christians and non-Christians. We need to beware of false prophets.

2. He also said there would be wars and rumors of wars, but that does not mean the time has come yet. Matthew 24: 6

There have been wars throughout history, so the wars we are having now can't be considered a sign neccesarily.

3. There will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes, in various places. Matthew 24:7

Famine is predicted for the future. Right now food prices are rising and they expect the trend to continue as the Chinese are consuming more food, because of their improved economy. Australia had flooding and many nations had droughts. By the year 2030, it is predicted that there won't be enough food to feed the world.

Japan has had their earthquake and tsunami and we need to watch whether that was a sign or not. If we experience more earthquakes than normal, we need to watch for other signs.

4. Christians will be delivered up to be afflicted and killed because they believe in Jesus.They will be hated by nations because of his name. Matthew 24:9

This verse could be speaking of the times the early Christians went through as they were slaughtered by lions, or it could be speaking of present times. Don't forget Al Queda and Bin Laden. Christians are hated for their faith and may be persecuted in the near future for their belief. Christians have been persecuted throughout history at various times.

5. False prophets shall arise and deceive many. Matthew 24: 11

False prophets have already arisen and call themselves Christians. I'm not going to name church names, but if you are a Christian you may know who I am speaking about. When the end is arising we will see more and more of this.

6. Iniquity will abound and many Christian will have their hearts become cold. Matthew 24:12

No one can deny that we are living in sinful times. Our hearts can be dulled by seeing sin over and over again. It can become a problem if we see others sinning constantly and we begin to think some things are alright, when they aren't.

The special promise in V.13 is "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." We need to guard our minds and hearts so we don't become like the world.

7. Everyone will have the opportunity to have knowledge of the Gospel. The end will come when the gospel has been preached to all nations. Matthew 24:14

We now have television, radios, printed Bibles, the internet, cell phones and so many other devises that can let the entire world know about the Gospel.

8. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place" Matthew 24:15

The abomination of desolation refers to when the Antichrist insists he must be worshipped in the temple instead of God. A pig will be offered on the altar. The Antichrist is the "man of sin" who will be in control of the world. All of this will happen at the mid point of the tribulation.

9. In the last days there will be many scoffers that say the end hasn't happened and they think it never will.

There is some disagreement whether Christians will live through the tribulation or if the Rapture will happen before that time. The Rapture is the time that Jesus comes back and gathers all Christians and takes them up to heaven.

These are all signs that the tribulation period which last 7 years is about to happen. At the end of the tribulation period we will see the end of the earth as we know it and the judgement will begin. There are many things that will happen during this tribulation. God does promise those that follow him and are believers that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Watch for the signs and prepare yourself.

Do you think the end of the world will happen during your lifetime?

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Comments

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Author

Barbara Badder 5 years agofrom USA

Writer Chuck, You're right. Thanks for your comments.

Writer Chuck 5 years ago

Watch and wait.

Author

Barbara Badder 5 years agofrom USA

ignugent17, Thanks for commenting.

ignugent17 5 years ago

Interesting hub and true no one really knows. I am not sure if it will happen in my life time.

Author

Barbara Badder 5 years agofrom USA

SwordofManticorE, Thanks for your comments.

SwordofManticorE 5 years agofrom Burlington

Christ never spoke about the end of the world in Matt 24 or 25. He spoke about the end of the age of the old covenent.

Author

Barbara Badder 5 years agofrom USA

rls8994, Thanks for reading and commenting and I'm happy to hear this helped you understand it better.

rls8994 5 years agofrom Mississippi

I really enjoyed reading this article. I have tried to read and study the book of Revelation and just couldn't understand a lot of it such as will Jesus return before the tribulation starts or after. You did a great job of explaining the signs of his return. Rated up! :)

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

Ms Dee, Thanks for visiting. I had to look up Chapter 14 and at some reference books too. There isn't complete agreement on this.

I agree with you. I learned the events best when we had a youth pastor that explained it to children. Before, I was mixed up with what happened when. I can't believe he taught this for first through sixth graders, but he did it in a way that anyone could understand. I wish I would have taken notes at the time, but I was helping with the kids.

Deidre Shelden 6 years agofrom Texas, USA

I've wondered and have been working on an understanding of when the reaping described in Rev. 14 takes place. I'm thinking it is a description of the rapture, but that I must understand the order of events in Revelation before I can see when Rev. 14 is in this order--so I have a hub on the chronological order of events in Rev. At present, I'm thinking the rapture is when the 4th of the seven trumpets in Revelation sounds.

Your nine points you list about the events at the end of the world are a great summary. I have looked at the O.T. prophets, with the help of study resources, and see the wars we are having now can't compare to the catastrophic future wars the O.T. prophets tell us are coming. (That is posted in a hub, too.) There is so much to learn and understand about what the Bible tells us will happen! :)

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

Writer Chuck, I agree. Thanks for commenting.

Writer Chuck 6 years ago

Even Jesus Christ said in Matthew that he didn't even know the time the end would come. Only the Father knew.

it's up to us to watch for the signs and live as we were taught.

avidix 6 years agofrom Jaipur,India

The seven suns will start to reach their light on earth,all the glaciers would melt down resulting into high rise seas. We can calculate after 100 years all the astronomy detas and get an idea. BUT In the meantime another universe is in its new born stage which is getting the sound energy of earth each day this immortal energy is like a powerhouse for their generation as the energy doesn't ends but change the form and whatever we speak or the sound generates on earth that accumulates in the space to shape-up a new one. Indian mythology points out towards it. So why to care about anything,leaving this old world we will shift into another Brand New.....

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

I am not saying the end isn't near, because I believe it is. I'm just saying that no one can predict the exact date and time, because only God knows that. As a Christian, we do need to watch for signs of the end.

I wrote this when the man, I can't remember his name was predicting the day the world would end and showing that no man can predict the exact day ahead of time. Yes, we can predict it will be soon, but not the day it will happen.

Thanks for commenting.

mariefontaine 6 years agofrom Indianapolis, Indiana

Wondering if you have read this again since the earthquakes in the US recently?

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

Jokylu, As long as there is a pre-tribulation rapture, I'm not worried abut the end times. Thanks for reading.

Jokylu 6 years agofrom Waratah North, Victoria.

Thankyou Barbara for a well written article. It is good to read a sensible and tempered article on the eminence of Jesus return and the end of this world as we know it.

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

Writer Chuck, I agree with you that they just give Christians a bad name, but I don't understand why when they don't understand the entire Bible that they predict these things and to do it twice.

Writer Chuck 6 years ago

It is May 22, 2011 I just returned from church and I was glad to see that if I was left behind I am in good company. Thats' right the world didn't end last night for me or my Christian friends.

Its too bad that this unchecked, unbiblical Harold Camping has pulled this stunt before He's just giving Christianity a bad name.

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

As long as we've received Jesus as our Saviour we really don't need to worry about, but I do feel a bit nervous when things happen like in Japan with the tsunami and earthquakes.

I enjoyed reading your fine article this morning. Surely, the end is more near than ever before. I doubt I will see it but it is coming soon. Your Hub is excellent. Well done my fellow Michigander!

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

jaclyn8668, Thanks for commenting on the hub. I agree. No one knows.

Author

Barbara Badder 6 years agofrom USA

Judah's Daughter, Thanks you for your educated opinion. It does look like the world is working its way towards the end. We'll know someday because either it happens during our lifetime or we are in heaven.

Judah's Daughter 6 years agofrom Roseville, CA

I love how you put this together ~ the 'signs' of His return. Jesus called them 'birth pains' (Mat 24:8). Certainly, when a mother goes into labor there is no turning back. Her contractions come sporadically at first, then faster and more intense.

Are we the generation that will see all these things come to pass? If the interpretation of Mat 24:32-34 is speaking of Israel becoming a nation (1947/1948), we are.

jaclyn8668 6 years ago

this is very interesting, it is hard to say. no one really knows in my opinion